Exploring Mobile Biometric Performance through Identification of Core Factors and Relationships

Biometrics, as a form of authentication, has existed for several decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Extensive research has been carried out into enhancing systems either by improving error rates or ease of adoption by examining barriers to use. In this paper, we investigate factors of a biometric system that is likely to affect performance, in particular, focusing on mobile device implementation. By surveying the area, we have identified seven core factors that help to form a clearer understanding of what changes the performance of a system. These seven factors are Users, Modality, Environments, Diversity of Scenarios, System Constraints, Hardware and Algorithms and form ‘The Core Factors Affecting Mobile Biometric Performance’. We utilise these factors to illustrate the practicalities of mobile implementations and indicate future considerations to explore future performance enhancements and provide an informative overview to developers, implementers and testers of biometrics systems, enabling the binning of performance alterations within one of these factors

Insulin resistance predicts the risk for recurrent coronary events in post-infarction patients

Background: We investigated the risk for recurrent coronary events associated with insulin resistance in post-infarction patients from the Thrombogenic Factors and Recurrent Coronary Events (THROMBO) study. Methods: The association between insulin resistance expressed by Homeostatic Model As­sessment 2 for Insulin Resistance (HOMA2-IR) and the risk for recurrent coronary events was investigated in a cohort of 1,032 patients evaluated 2 months after myocardial infarction (MI) with a follow-up of 26 months. The endpoint for the study was recurrent coronary event defined as cardiac death, nonfatal MI, or unstable angina, whichever occurred first. We used time dependent survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression method to determine the association between HOMA2 categorized as high > 75th percentile and endpoints after adjustment for relevant clinical covariates and series of thrombogenic and dyslipogenic factors. Results: High HOMA2-IR defined as in fourth quartile (≥ 2.4) was associated with increased risk for recurrent coronary events (HR 1.44; CI 1.03–2.01; p = 0.03) after adjustment for the clinical covariates: age, gender, diabetes, prior MI, pulmonary congestion, coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. The highest risk of cardiac events was observed in non-obese patients (body mass index [BMI] ≤ 30 kg/m2) with high HOMA2-IR (HR 1.5; CI 1.02–2.22; p = 0.038). The plasma level of plasminogen activa­tor inhibitor-1 was associated with higher risk for recurrent coronary events in patients with insulin resistance (HR 1.79; CI 1.05–3.03; p = 0.03, interaction p = 0.018). Conclusions: In conclusion, insulin resistance predicts recurrence of coronary events in post-infarction population. HOMA2-IR is better than BMI in stratifying risk of recurrent coronary events

Face Image Analysis in Mobile Biometric Accessibility Evaluations

Smartphones cameras are widely used for biometric authentication purposes. This enables more and more users experience face recognition in different common scenarios (e.g., unlocking phones, banking, access controls). One of its advantages is that face recognition requires low interaction with the systems (by simply looking at the smartphone's screen). Thus, it may be useful for people affected by mobility concerns. For this reason, researchers recently started to conduct mobile biometric evaluations recruiting accessibility populations. The aim is to analyse all those factors that, depending on the users' capabilities, influence the biometrics recognition process. In this paper we focus our attention on sample quality, analysing the face images collected during a mobile biometric accessibility study. Results obtained enable us to understand how the users' accessibility concerns influence the biometric sample quality and discuss possible solutions for eradicating this inconvenience. This assessment had been conducted following the recommendations of the ISO/IEC TR 29794-5

Biometric Systems Interaction Assessment: The State of the Art

The design and implementation of effective and efficient biometric systems presents a series of challenges to information technology (IT) designers to ensure robust performance. One of the most important factors across biometric systems, aside from algorithmic matching ability, is the human interaction influence on performance. Changes in biometric system paradigms have motivated further testing methods, especially within mobile environments, where the interaction with the device has fewer environmental constraints, whichmay severely affect system performance. Testing methods involve the need for reflecting on the influence of user-system interaction on the overall system performance in order to provide information for design and testing. This paper reflects on the state of the art of biometric systems interaction assessment, leading to a comprehensive document of the relevant research and standards in this area. Furthermore, the current challenges are discussed and thus we provide a roadmap for the future of biometrics systems interaction research

Functional bowel disorders with diarrhoea: Clinical guidelines of the United European Gastroenterology and European Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhoea (IBS-D) and functional diarrhoea (FDr) are the two major functional bowel disorders characterized by diarrhoea. In spite of their high prevalence, IBS-D and FDr are associated with major uncertainties, especially regarding their optimal diagnostic work-up and management. A Delphi consensus was performed with experts from 10 European countries who conducted a literature summary and voting process on 31 statements. Quality of evidence was evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. Consensus (defined as >80% agreement) was reached for all the statements. The panel agreed with the potential overlapping of IBS-D and FDr. In terms of diagnosis, the consensus supports a symptom-based approach also with the exclusion of alarm symptoms, recommending the evaluation of full blood count, C-reactive protein, serology for coeliac disease, and faecal calprotectin, and consideration of diagnosing bile acid diarrhoea. Colonoscopy with random biopsies in both the right and left colon is recommended in patients older than 50 years and in presence of alarm features. Regarding treatment, a strong consensus was achieved for the use of a diet low fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols, gut-directed psychological therapies, rifaximin, loperamide, and eluxadoline. A weak or conditional recommendation was achieved for antispasmodics, probiotics, tryciclic antidepressants, bile acid sequestrants, 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 antagonists (i.e. alosetron, ondansetron, or ramosetron). A multinational group of European experts summarized the current state of consensus on the definition, diagnosis, and management of IBS-D and FDr

Italian guidelines for the management of irritable bowel syndrome: Joint Consensus from the Italian Societies of: Gastroenterology and Endoscopy (SIGE), Neurogastroenterology and Motility (SINGEM), Hospital Gastroenterologists and Endoscopists (AIGO), Digestive Endoscopy (SIED), General Medicine (SIMG), Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Pediatric Nutrition (SIGENP) and Pediatrics (SIP)

The irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder of gut-brain interaction. IBS is still associated with areas of uncertainties, especially regarding the optimal diagnostic work-up and the more appropriate management. Experts from 7 Italian Societies conducted a Delphi consensus with literature summary and voting process on 27 statements. Recommendations and quality of evidence were evaluated using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Consensus was defined as >80% agreement and reached for all statements.In terms of diagnosis, the consensus supports a positive diagnostic strategy with a symptom-based approach, including the psychological comorbidities assessment and the exclusion of alarm symptoms, together with the digital rectal examination, full blood count, C- reactive protein, serology for coeliac disease, and fecal calprotectin assessment. Colonoscopy should be recommended in patients with alarm features. Regarding treatment, the consensus strongly supports a dietary approach for patients with IBS, the use of soluble fiber, secretagogues, tricyclic antidepressants, psychologically directed therapies and, only in specific IBS subtypes, rifaximin. A conditional recommendation was achieved for probiotics, polyethylene glycol, antispasmodics, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and, only in specific IBS subtypes, 5-HT3 antagonists, 5-HT4 agonists, bile acid sequestrants